Job 4
1 Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
2 If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
“Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
3 Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;
Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to feeble knees.
Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art confounded!
Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?
Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? Or where have the righteous been cut off?
Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
8 According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, reap the same.
Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
9 By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of his nostrils they are consumed.
Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
11 The fierce lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
12 A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.
Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,
Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
14 A fear and a horror came upon me, Which made all my bones to shake.
ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face, The hair of my flesh rose on end;
Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
16 It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:
Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
17 “Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall man be more pure than his Maker?
‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
18 Behold, he putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.
Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
19 What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!
pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
20 Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.
Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
21 The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”
Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
